New LR-AShM hypersonic anti-ship missile strengthens India’s long-range coastal strike.

India publicly displayed the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) during the 77th Republic Day parade on January 26, 2026, on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, marking its first public appearance as a land-based maritime strike system.

On January 26, 2026, during the 77th Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, India publicly displayed the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) together with its launcher, marking the first public appearance of this new hypersonic glide weapon. The appearance confirmed the shore-based long-range maritime strike system’s relevance for the Indian Navy coastal battery requirements and its intended role in engaging naval targets from land positions, with a range of up to 1,500 km.
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During the 77th Republic Day parade in India, the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) was mounted on a BEML-Tatra T815 8x8 High Mobility Vehicle (HMV), which serves as a dedicated Transporter-Erector-Launcher. (Picture source: X/Black Tiger)

The timing of the display, which followed earlier developmental milestones completed before 2026, signaled that the missile had reached a stage of development considered suitable for national presentation. The Long Range – Anti Ship Missile (LRAShM) emerged from India’s requirement for a conventionally armed missile capable of striking surface vessels at ranges beyond those covered by existing anti-ship cruise and short-range ballistic missiles. This requirement emerged from operational gaps between supersonic cruise missiles such as BrahMos and longer-range ballistic missiles primarily associated with strategic deterrence roles. The concept focused on a weapon able to maintain hypersonic speed while maneuvering within the atmosphere against moving maritime targets.

The development focused on a boost-glide architecture combining a two-stage solid-fuel rocket with a hypersonic glide vehicle optimized for atmospheric flight rather than a purely ballistic trajectory. From the outset, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) defined the LR-AShM as a non-nuclear maritime strike missile rather than a strategic ballistic weapon. Development of the LR-AShM has been led by the DRDO through its missile and advanced systems establishments, under the direction of project leadership, including A Prasad Goud. Program work focused on a boost-glide architecture using solid-fuel propulsion and a maneuvering hypersonic glide vehicle optimized for sustained atmospheric flight. Design efforts emphasized maintaining hypersonic velocity throughout most of the trajectory while retaining control authority for terminal maneuvering. The program progressed through design maturation during the late 2010s and early 2020s, leading to full-scale flight validation. By November 2024, the missile had reached a level of development sufficient to support long-range hypersonic testing.

The design of the LR-AShM is based on a two-stage solid rocket boost-glide configuration rather than a single-stage ballistic profile. After launch, the first-stage booster accelerates the missile to hypersonic speed and separates once expended, allowing the second stage to continue propulsion until burnout. Following this phase, the hypersonic glide vehicle enters an unpowered atmospheric glide, using aerodynamic lift to sustain speed and maneuverability. The glide body is shaped to enable lateral movement and trajectory adjustment rather than a fixed ballistic descent. This configuration supports engagement of moving naval targets and complicates interception based on predictable flight paths.

Testing of the LR-AShM included long-range hypersonic flight trials conducted prior to its public debut. A key milestone occurred in November 2024, when the missile successfully completed a long-range test exceeding 1,500 kilometers, validating propulsion staging and sustained hypersonic glide. The test sequence confirmed separation events, atmospheric maneuvering, and control during high-speed flight. These trials also supported the evaluation of guidance and navigation performance required for maritime target engagement. Completion of this testing phase enabled the missile to be displayed publicly at the January 26, 2026, parade.

In terms of specifications, the LR-AShM has a stated operational range of up to 1,500 kilometers and follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory within the atmosphere. Flight parameters indicate an initial velocity reaching Mach 10, followed by sustained hypersonic travel at an average speed of Mach 5.0 through multiple atmospheric skips. The missile is designed to carry multiple payload types suited to maritime strike missions. Terminal guidance relies on onboard sensors intended to support accuracy against moving surface targets. The combination of speed, maneuverability, and flight profile might reduce the detection time for ground-based and ship-borne radar systems.

Production of the LR-AShM remains aligned with developmental and limited-output phases rather than declared full-rate serial manufacturing. The missile has not been announced as fully operational, indicating that production activity supports testing, evaluation, and gradual induction planning. Domestic industry participation contributes to the fabrication of propulsion units, airframes, and guidance components under national programs. Production scaling is expected to depend on formal service acceptance and deployment decisions.

Future deployment of the LR-AShM is centered on shore-based coastal batteries intended to provide long-range anti-ship coverage across wide maritime approaches. The missile is planned as a conventional maritime strike weapon complementing shorter-range systems such as BrahMos and longer-range ballistic missiles designed for strategic roles. Within India’s missile inventory, the LR-AShM occupies a distinct position by combining hypersonic speed, atmospheric maneuvering, and a conventional payload for anti-ship use. Its intended employment supports coastal denial and stand-off maritime strike without reliance on forward-deployed air or naval launch platforms. Integration with maritime surveillance and targeting networks is expected to further shape its operational use.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.